Welsh Legal System

Today I learnt what’s unique about Welsh Law.

A new article has been added to Globalex called Researching Welsh Law: What is unique in Wales. The article provides a brief overview of the development of the Welsh Legal System and provides details on where you can access sources of Welsh law. It’s written by Lillian Stevenson & Dr. Catrin Huws from Aberystwyth University:

http://www.nyulawglobal.org/Globalex/Wales.htm

I also learnt that there was a consultation earlier this year to seek views on whether Wales should become a separate legal jurisdiction. Although this has huge implications on the jurisdiction of England and Wales, I’m ashamed to say this passed me completely. You can read the consultation and summary of responses on the Welsh Government’s website.

http://wales.gov.uk/consultations/finance/seplegaljurisdiction/?lang=en

London Gazette Archive

Today I learnt the £50 reward for info on the whereabouts of Dick Turpin was advertised in the London Gazette in 1734 and you can see it online.

As well as being a source of current official, regulatory and legal information, the London Gazette has a vast and historically important archive. It was first published in 1665 (when Charles II was King). You can search the archive by date or keyword, or choose from the historic events from their drop down list including:

World War I

World War II

Great Fire of London 1666

King James declares freedom of religion 1687

Reward for Dick Turpin 1734

Battle of Trafalgar 1805

Death of Napoleon 1821

Coronation of Queen Victoria 1838

Birth of Princess Elizabeth 1926

http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/

Getting Google to exclude certain sites from a search

Today I learnt how to get Google to exclude certain websites from my search.

The answer is the following search command:

-site:

For example if I wanted results on national insurance, but not from HMRC, I’d search for:

national insurance -site:hmrc.gov.uk

This, and other helpful internet search tips, from Karen Blakeman’s blog:

http://www.rba.co.uk/wordpress/2012/09/03/top-search-tips-from-north-wales/

EU Legislative Process

Today I learnt where to find a step-by-step guide to the EU legislative process.

There are handy guides to each of the decision making procedures on the European Parliament website. You are helpfully provided with the history and outline of the procedure, a flowchart and links to the relevant primary legislation.

Included are:

Ordinary legislative procedure
Consultation
Consent
Enhanced Cooperation
Appointment procedures
Legislative initiative procedure
Other legislative procedures

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/aboutparliament/en/006ff89b2c/Introduction.html